Estonian Integration Strategy (2008-2009) monitoring

Raivo Vetik, Professor of Comparitive Politics, TLU

Background

Tallinn University research group: Raivo Vetik, Jüri Kruusvall, Maaris Raudsepp, Gerli Nimmerfeldt, Marti Taru, Riina Tõugu.

February to April 2010 – preparations for the study in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture.

11th – 24th of May 2010 – research company Saar Poll interviewed 1010 respondents (half of them russophones) aged 15-74, selected in accordance with the proportional random sample.

General overview of the resultsOn the one hand: The contacts between people of different ethnic background have become

somewhat more frequent. Mutual recognition between between people of different ethnic

background has grown. The Estonian language skills of the russophone population have improved. On the other hand: The wish to obtain Estonian citizenship has declined significantly among

stateless people. Trust in the Estonian state and its institutions is very low among the

Russian speaking population. Perception of the economic inequality across ethnic groups has grown.

The Integration Strategy aims to achieve by 2013:

The level of command of Estonian among people whose mother tongue is not Estonian has improved on all levels;

Contacts and communication between people with different mother tongues have increased and differences in participation in civil society organisations and the public sphere between the Estonian and Russian speaking population have decreased;

The percentage of people with undetermined citizenship among the residents of Estonia has been consistently decreasing;

The majority of Estonian residents trust people of other nationalities living in Estonia and they trust the Estonian state;

A majority of the people whose mother tongue is not Estonian regularly receive information from Estonian media sources and trust them;

Differences in employment and income levels between employees of different ethnic groups have decreased.

Estonian language skills

Objective: The level of command of Estonian among the people

whose mother tongue is not Estonian has improved on all levels.

Indicator: Self-assessment of one’s command of the Estonian

language (good; average; poor; none at all) on the basis of the following: understanding oral speech, reading, writing, and communicating.

According to self-perception Estonian language skills have improved: high association with age and region

Estonian language skills are influenced by the language needed at the workplace

Venekeelsete töötajate keeltevajadus tööl

5969 71

6172 63 70

56

87 80 81 73

21 18 18 2123 21 2410

4424

15 15

020406080

100

20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59

vanusegrupp

eesti keel 2005

eesti keel 2008

eesti keel 2010

inglise keel 2005

inglise keel 2008

inglise keel 2010

Attitudes towards language learning among the Russian-speaking population are similar to that of the Estonians – interest is high!

Need for the Russian language has grown among Estonians – half of the respondents need it at work and a quater in their spare time.

Related to the the rise in the amount of contacts and communication between the ethnic groups.

Contacts and participation

Objective: Contacts and communication between people with different

mother tongues have increased and differences in participation in civil society organisations and the public sphere between Estonians and Russian speaking population have decreased.

Indicator: Regular contacts between Estonians and members of other

ethnic groups.

The amount of contacts has increased – actual amount and also the acknowledgement of contacts

The biggest differences are in the perceived role of the Russian Federation, the politics of the Estonian government and socio-economic inequality.

The attitudes of Estonians towards cooperation with the Russian speakers have become more positive.

Decrease in the number of stateless people

Objective: The percentage of people with undetermined

citizenship among the residents of Estonia has been consistently decreasing.

Indicator: The percentage of people with undetermined

citizenship among the residents of Estonia.

The stateless form 7,5% of the population. Relation to age – The biggest age group among

russophone Estonian citizens are the 15-29 year olds (34%), whereas the same agegroup forms just 4% of the respondents among the citizens of the Russian Federation – about half of whom are over 60. In the stateless group, all age groups are about equal.

Relation to education – among the stateless the group of respondents with just basic education is the biggest (30%) and only 5% have higher education.

Reasons for statelessness– a) language and the exam, b) pragmatic, c) emotional considerations

The wish to obtain Estonian citizenship has declined significantly among the stateless – related to age and income

2000 2002 2005 2008 2010

Estonian citizenship60 65 74 51 34

Russian citizenship5 6 11 19 16

Other citizenship7 9 5 14 8

No wish to obtain a citizenship

16 14 7 16 40

Number of respondents170 109 102 105 110

What characterizes the stateless who do not wish to have any citizenship?

61% are over 45 years old. 54% have low Estonian language skills (measured by

index) 40% feel a strong or a very strong connection to Estonia 58% feel apart from the Estonian society, 76% love

Estonia 57% feel more at home in Estonia than anywhere else

in the world. 92% consider the citizenship policy to be too harsh and

unjust to non-Estonians.

Political and social trust

Objective: The majority of Estonian residents trust people of other

nationalities living in Estonia and the Estonian state.

Indicators: Attitude of Estonians towards people from other ethnic

groups participating in social and political life. Trust towards the Estonian State among Estonians and

people from other ethnic groups.

The social trust of Estonians is a little higher.

“trust” and “trust strongly”

The proportion of Estonians who think that the views of the Russian speakers should be taken more into consideration has grown.

The opinions of the non-Estonians should be better known and taken into consideration because they are an important part of the society

Both sides are self-critical in respect to integration – this is a sign of recognition of the other.

Employment and income

Objective Differences in employment and income levels between

employees of different ethnic groups have decreased.

Indicators: Comparison of the level of satisfaction with the financial

well-being of one’s family among ethnic groups. Percentage of people among Estonians and other ethnic

groups who consider opportunities for different ethnic groups and the position in the society to be equal.

Estonians’ evaluations of their personal economic situation are much higher than those of non-Estonians. The differences between ethnic groups are on a rise.

2010 2008 2010-2008

Estonian Russian Estonian Russian Estonian Russian I live/we live well with the current income

21% 6% 15% 8% 6% -2% I/we manage with the current income,

51% 44% 58% 53% -7% -9% It is hard to manage with the current income

21% 38% 21% 27% 0% 11% It is not possible to manage with the current income 6% 12% 7% 13% -1% -1%

Russian-speakers predominantly consider the situation and opportunities more favorable for Estonians

Favouring Estonians EqualFavouring Russian

speakers

EstoniansRussian

speakersEstonians

Russian speakers

EstonianRussian

speakers

Income, welfare35% 91% 61% 9% 5% 0%

Educational opportunities for children 36% 80% 63% 20% 1% 0%

Options of political activities51% 93% 48% 7% 0% 0%

Possibility to attain high positions in public service

63% 95% 37% 4% 0% 1%

Main conclusions:

Russian-speaking population: Adaptation to the Estonian society in the sense of contacts and language skills is improving, but alienation from the state as a political institution in the sense of trust and sense of belonging is deepening.

Estonians: The amount of contacts has increased and intergration-related attitudes have become a bit more open.